Andy Janiga, DMD, FAGD
“Each March during Children’s Dental Health Month, I visit the local schools and discuss oral health with the children in our community.”
Center for Dental Excellence, Nashua, New Hampshire
When Andy Janiga, DMD, FAGD, was a child, he loved going to the dentist. In high school, he worked for his childhood dentist and saw firsthand the art and science — and athleticism — of dentistry.
“I liked the fact that this was not a desk job, but rather an active career,” Janiga said. “I played sports growing up, and I was drawn to the fact that dentistry could be just as active as playing sports.”
A former college baseball player, Janiga applies many of the teamwork principles he learned in athletics to his dental practice.
“Teammates and coaches who were positive, reassuring and motivating led to winning
teams,” Janiga said. “A dental office is very similar. When a dentist brings positive vibes to the office, the staff feeds off of it and is inspired to do the best they can, not just for themselves but for the entire team.
In his young career, Janiga was selected as a “40 Under 40” dentist in 2017 by Incisal Edge magazine, presented at the AGD scientific session in 2022 and became a partner at his practice, Center for Dental Excellence in Nashua, New Hampshire. Janiga joined his practice during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic but has eagerly introduced himself and integrated his practice into the community.
“Each March during Children’s Dental Health Month, I visit the local schools and discuss oral health with the children in our community,” Janiga said. “Our practice has also taken a greater role in the community by participating in events such as our local farmer’s market and trunk-or-treat events to spread the word about what we can do to help improve the oral health of our community.”
One of Janiga’s goals is to reduce the fear and anxiety that many patients feel when seeing a dentist. Recalling how he loved seeing the dentist as a kid, Janiga aims to create an environment where patients look forward to coming to see the dentist.
“Small things, such as checking in with a patient mid-procedure and including them in the discussions about what may be occurring with their oral health and how they can address it, have helped our patients become healthier and create overall positive, enjoyable experiences in our practice,” Janiga said.